Guest Commentary: Sorry, But Fashion Is Not A Celebration Of The Everywoman
Posted: January 8th, 2010 | Author: Lauren Streib | Filed under: fashion, publishing, rants | Tags: Crystal Renn, Karl Lagerfeld, plus sized issue, V magazine | 7 Comments »
Image: Karl Lagerfeld for V Magazine
I adore fashion and I have never been thin. My size has taunted and tormented me for as long as I can remember, not because I necessarily wanted to be thin as much as I wanted to look different in clothes. It’s difficult to trust someone who says they love fashion when their appearance screams comfort, practicality or negligence, so in many ways I have always felt like something of a fraud. Even today, few things intimidate me more than a skinny, well-dressed peer. (Ed. note: WHA? For the record, Streib is fashionable and beautiful.)
But the never-ending and nauseating discussions of whether the idolization of super-skinny models and celebrities is ruining our culture—brought to light most recently with V magazine’s current size issue, which includes plus size models—is absurd. I’ll be the first one to admit that any issues I have with my size are fueled by my own insecurities, not because fashion magazines are beckoning me to fit some fabricated ideal. I’m never going to feel more comfortable with my body by seeing Crystal Renn in a bikini. Why? Because she’s just as gorgeous as any size two professional model.
Fashion magazines are not a celebration of the Everywoman, just like cooking magazines don’t include images of frozen TV dinners. Aspiration is part of the editorial appeal, it’s all about what’s new, what’s different, whatever can convince you to buy the magazine. V is getting tons of publicity because of this issue, which is great for them. But pretending that this is suddenly going to revolutionize the fashion industry or make women more accepting of their bodies is ludicrous. It’s the same thing in a different package.
Fashion is a business. Publishing is a business. Self-confidence, health, personal style…these are not things that can be purchased.
Lauren Streib is a journalist living in Brooklyn. She’s written for Forbes, The Daily Beast, Marie Claire and of course, The Fashion Beat.
Another ed. note: Magazines don’t give girls anorexia, their parents–pushing them to be perfect in every way–do. Growing up, I was certainly not a size O and I loved fashion magazines. Yet I’ve always been self confident because my mother was constantly telling me how beautiful and smart I was. While I commend V for its effort, I do think this is going to have a similar effect as the Italian Vogue “black” issue did: very little. Someday, I hope to see women of all sizes and colors in every magazine. Not because it’s politically correct, but because it’s more beautiful.
Right on! Thanks for having the logic and the purity of heart to tell it like it is. I’ve been thinking this for awhile now. And I fully support Kaiser Karl to like or dislike whatever aesthetic he wants – he’s a brilliant artist for goodness sakes!
Great points made. Ultimately having great style is about confidence and knowing yourself rather than anything to do with fashion. I do think it is positive that magazines such as V are doing ‘curvy’ shoots but what I feel it is that should be the norm rather than a huge publicity affair
I thought about the black issue too when I first saw this. But… I think the black issue worked better, mostly because–or perhaps even solely because–the photography was at a higher level. You can’t really compare Terry Richardson with Steven Meisel. The black issue did feel gimmicky, but it also showcased quality art, which transcended the gimmick, while this V issue is just sort of meh, Crystal Renn’s stunning beauty aside.
Re: Magazines don’t cause anorexia–I agree. As someone who suffered from disorders as a teen, I can tell you that it was not fashion magazines–we never even had any in our house!!! I think it was that expectation to be perfect–and also having weight-obsessed matriarchs.
However, I DO think models are too thin. I agree that fashion magazines are supposed to be aspirational/not-real-life, but I have come across editorials in mainstream fashion pubs like HB and Vogue in which I can’t even LOOK at the model because she looks so emaciated and brittle it is PAINFUL to me. Remember that controversial Calvin Klein ad in Soho that was taken down? I couldn’t have cared less about the sexual content, but I could not look at that billboard because the female model in it was so emaciated–it really disturbed me! I mean, I hate to be all nostalgic for the “supers”, but, oh hell, can’t we have them back?
I posted a comment on here last night however it’s on not on here. I was wondering if it didn’t go through for some reason or you just felt that it wasn’t appropriate?
Hi LD–I haven’t seen it. Send it through again and I’ll make sure it gets up there. Thanks!
That sucks that it didn’t go through because I wrote alot. Basically I was confused by a lot of stuff in the post. It’s seems that your point is that magazines don’t have any effect on peoples body image. You yourself admit to not being totally happy about how you look in clothes, but were does that come from? “Issues I have with my size are fueled by my own insecurites, not because fashion magazines are beckoning me to fit some fabricated ideal”. That’s exactly what fashion magazines are for, they are there to create and fulfill peoples fantasies and yes, beckon you to fit their fabricated (photoshopped) ideal. Did your insecurities simply come from out of thin air? Also, I’m confused by the comment were said that you are never going to be any more comfortable with your body by seeing Crystal Renn in a bikini because she is just as beautiful as any size two model. So it goes beyond size and now your insecure about your overall physical beauty. Beauty is subjective. That statement makes it seems like you judge beauty by the standard of high fashion models, which is a result of fashion magazines. Thats why I love the new V issue because it breaks the mold and shows women of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Gabourey Sidibe is on the cover and she is definitely not the model type. Does that help at all?
Another thing is that I can’t believe you said that magazines don’t cause anorexia. They’re obviously not the direct cause of the disease but they do play a big part in most cases. Media has a huge influence on body image. You say it’s mostly the parents, which it is in most cases it is, but supposedly your own mom tells you how beautiful you are and yet you still have some insecurities. Wether people agree with it or not, media it does set a standard.
“But pretending that this is suddenly going to revolutionize the fashion industry or make women more accepting of their bodies is ludicrous”. How is it so ludicrous to think that showing a wide range of beauty in magazines won’t make women more accepting of their bodies. How does seeing all that diversity not give you a little boost of confidence? You seem to be backing the fashion industry and bashing it at the same time. Do you think people should or should not read the magazines?
“Someday, I hope to see women of all sizes and colors in every magazine. Not because it’s politically correct, but because it’s more beautiful.” Well that day is now and you still don’t seem to buy it. It’s disheartening to hear that you, someone who is clearly open about their insecurities, feels that the V issue will have little effect. I feel that the Vogue Italia “black” issue and the new V issue features different beauty simply because they are beautiful subjects; I don’t see why you think they did it to be politically correct.
I’m not perfect and I definitely have some insecurities, which is why I embraces stuff like this. If you automatically count it out and aren’t excited about it then yes, issues like the “black” and “shape” issue will have very little effect and it will all go back to the same old standards.
Hi again, LD. I think you’re a bit confused. I am Lauren Sherman–the editor–and Lauren Streib is the writer. The stuff that is in italics says “ed. note” and the stuff in plain text is by Lauren Streib (you can see her name in the author byline and at the bottom of the story.) It’s understandable that you were mixed up since our names are so similar. However, I tried to make it very clear by putting “guest commentary” in the headline and also puttomg my thoughts in italics to differentiate us.
Back to the discussion at hand. Though Lauren and I made some different points, I think we both agree on one thing: While the V mag is an interesting idea, it’s not going to change anything. Think about those crazy people who believe video games turn kids into murderers. It’s the same thing: Sure, media influences us, but parents and genetics are the greatest influencers.